Re: House Bill 285 Failed yesterday

[Guest guest]

And we could take our kids places when they aren't packed and wouldn't

be as likely to be overstimulating. (Disney in October is calmer than

Disney in August - or so I hear - hehe).

Missy Feldhaus wrote:

> Exactly. Vacations can be planned thru out the year as opposed to

> trying to cram it all in at the same time every year. MISSY SAHM to

> some special kids!!!

>

> I am who I am because that's who I am --, 5, Aspergers

>

>

> All kids are gifted; some just open their packages earlier than

> others.

>

> -- Carr

>

> Re: House Bill 285 Failed

> yesterday

>

>

> Why don't they just go to year round school? We go back to school on

> 3 Aug as it is.

>

> MISSY SAHM to some special kids!!!

[Guest guest]

Exactly!!!

MISSY

SAHM to some special kids!!!

I am who I am because that's who I am

--, 5, Aspergers

All kids are gifted; some just open their

packages earlier than others.

-- Carr

Re: House Bill 285 Failed

>> yesterday

>>

>>

>> Why don't they just go to year round school? We go back to school on

>> 3 Aug as it is.

>>

>> MISSY SAHM to some special kids!!!

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Our schools in Floyd County, GA went to the year round system 2

years ago and we love it. You still have approx the same amount of

time off - its just graduated throughout the year. We enjoyed

taking a week off in March and going to a resort area which we had

to ourselves rather than with 30,000 other people!

Plus, they have done a study in our area, and found less regression

and higher test scores.

Sherri

> Exactly. Vacations can be planned thru out the year as opposed to

trying to cram it all in at the same time every year.

> MISSY

> SAHM to some special kids!!!

>

> I am who I am because that's who I am

> --, 5, Aspergers

>

>

> All kids are gifted; some just open their

> packages earlier than others.

>

> -- Carr

>

> House Bill 285 Failed yesterday

>

>

> I want to keep everyone informed that HB 285 failed

yersterday. Please see below AJC article.

> Thank you,

> Heidi Fernandez

>

> Long, lazy summers lose in Legislature

> Effort to delay school districts' starting dates flunks test

>

> By MARY MacDONALD, JEN SANSBURY

> The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

> Published on: 03/04/05

> Legislation that would have forced school systems to push

the first day of school back to late August died Thursday.

>

> After a three-hour public hearing, a House education

subcommittee voted 10-3 to reject a measure that would have required

schools to begin classes between Aug. 29 and Sept. 7.

>

>

> BEN GRAY/AJC

> (ENLARGE)

> Parents who supported regulated school starting dates -

(from left) Ken Heimrich of sville and i Madison and

Vivian of Cobb County - listen to public comments Thursday

at a meeting of the House education subcommittee that rejected the

proposal.

>

> EMAIL THIS

> PRINT THIS

> MOST POPULAR

>

>

>

> " It's dead, " said Rep. Fran Millar (R-Dunwoody), vice

chairman of the House Education Committee, who voted for the

bill. " We won't take up a bill that's reported unfavorably. "

>

> As a result, metro Atlanta's public school students will

likely start classes in early to mid-August, as scheduled. Some

school systems in Georgia will start as early as July.

>

> Mike Dudgeon, a Forsyth County parent who spoke in favor of

a later start date, said he was surprised by the legislators' vote.

At the same time, he suggested the strong debate on the subject may

have sent a message to school boards not to " keep encroaching " on

the summer.

>

> " I think these guys will really think twice about going into

July, " he said.

>

> The push to return to a more traditional calendar, including

a summer break encompassing most of August, has divided school

officials, parents and politicians. The initial public hearing on

House Bill 285 drew 100 people Thursday. Most were education

officials, including school board members and superintendents who

argued school calendars should remain their decision to make.

>

> The bill's purpose was seen as common sense by many parents

and businesses that rely on summer tourism. It would have provided

uniformity across the state and reclaimed a month kids traditionally

spent with family.

>

> " We've got starting dates all over the board, without one

shred of consistency, " said state Rep. Ron s (R-Garden City),

the bill's chief sponsor.

>

> But the legislation came with highly placed opposition. Both

Gov. Sonny Perdue and Superintendent of Schools Kathy say school

start dates are for local officials to decide.

>

> School officials, who were almost unanimously opposed to the

bill, argued the summer hasn't disappeared - it's just being shaped

differently around the 180-day school year. Particularly in high

school, officials argued, earlier starting dates can help students

because they finish final exams before the long holiday break in

December.

>

> In ding County, the school board picked a starting date

of Aug. 8 for the upcoming year after much debate, said Vicki Lacey,

an 11-year board member.

>

> " That's what my community wants. That's what they elected me

to do, " she told legislators. " Please allow us to do our job. "

>

> In the Henry County district, represented by Rep. Steve

(R-McDonough), schools follow a " balanced " calendar that

places shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year. said

parents, including himself, love the calendar. Henry County classes

start on Aug. 1 next school year.

>

> " Republican values say that we have local control, "

said. " This [bill] basically usurps that. "

>

> But many parents who spoke at the hearing said the school

boards are not listening to their concerns.

>

> " Local school boards across Georgia have refused to be

receptive to the parents who elected them, " said Lane Holt, a Cobb

County mother who helped found the group Georgians Need Summers. She

said the state already mandates curriculum and other issues. " Why

should school calendars be any different? " she asked.

>

> Supporters of the bill also argued that the schools could

benefit by reclaiming taxes from tourism dollars that are lost each

August. No comprehensive survey has been offered to show how much

tourism money Georgia might be losing. In South Carolina, where most

schools start by mid-August, the loss of tax revenue has been

estimated at $8 million a year.

>

> Several other states, including Texas and North Carolina,

have approved or are considering legislation that pushes school

start dates later in the year. Until this year, similar efforts in

Georgia failed to gain traction.

>

> This year - after many school systems set opening dates in

early August - angry parents had political momentum. And during

Thursday's hearing, s said the issue isn't going away.

>

> " I believe you're going to see this bill every year until we

decide to do something, " he said.

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